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Willmer "Little Ax" M. Broadnax, (December 28,
1916[1]
– 1994) also known as "Little Axe," "Wilbur," "Willie," and
"Wilmer," was an African-American
hard gospel quartet singer. A tiny man with glasses and a high,
powerful tenor voice, he worked
and recorded with many of the most famous and influential groups of
his day.

Broadnax was born in Houston in 1916. After moving to Southern
California in the mid-40s, he and his brother, William, joined the
Southern Gospel Singers, a group which performed primarily on
weekends. The Broadnax brothers soon formed their own quartet, the
Golden Echoes. William eventually left for Atlanta, where he joined
the Five Trumpets, but Willmer stayed on as lead singer. In 1949
the group, augmented by future Soul StirrerPaul Foster, recorded a
single of "When the Saints Go Marching In" for Specialty
Records. Label chief Art
Rupe decided to drop them before they could record a follow-up,
and shortly thereafter the Golden Echoes disbanded.[1]

In 1950, Broadnax joined the Spirit of Memphis Quartet.
Along with Broadnax, the group featured two other leads -- Jethro
"Jet" Bledsoe, a bluesy crooner, and Silas Steele, an overpowering
baritone. This was one of the most impressive line-ups in quartet
history. The Spirit of Memphis Quartet recorded for King
Records, and Broadnax appeared on their releases at least until
1952. Shortly after that, however, he moved on, working with the Fairfield Four, and, in the beginning of
the 60s, as one of the replacements for Archie Brownlee in the Five Blind Boys of
Mississippi. Until 1965 he headed a quartet called "Little Axe
and the Golden Echoes," which released some singles on Peacock
Records. By then, quartet singing was fading as a commercial
phenomenon, and Broadnax retired from touring, though he did
continue to record occasionally with the Blind Boys into the 70s
and 80s.

Upon his death in 1994, it was discovered that Broadnax was
anatomically female.[2]